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Mental health therapist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$60,280median pay per year, or $28.98 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $39,740lowest 10% earn less
  2. $47,07025th percentile
  3. $60,280median
  4. $79,73075th percentile
  5. $104,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

BLS groups this work as mental health and substance abuse social workers, and workers in the group report titles such as Mental Health Therapist[1]. Their median pay was $60,280 a year in May 2025[2], and employment is projected to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+10.3%[3]
Openings per year
12,500[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[7]

How much do mental health therapists make?

This page uses the BLS category of mental health and substance abuse social workers. The median wage was $60,280 a year, or $28.98 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[2]. The average was $68,030 a year, or $32.71 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,740 a year, and the 90th percentile was $104,170[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $39,740 $19.11
25th[4][10] $47,070 $22.63
Median[2] $60,280 $28.98
75th[4][10] $79,730 $38.33
90th[4][10] $104,170 $50.08

About 132,810 people held these jobs in May 2025[11]. The figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[12].

Pay by state and city

Pay differs a lot by place. Among the 50 states and DC with published data, New York had the highest median at $79,380[13]. California followed at $79,000 and Connecticut at $78,640[13]. South Carolina was last in the list at $39,930[13].

California had the most jobs at 19,860[14]. New York had 14,820, Texas 8,220, Massachusetts 7,440 and Ohio 6,050[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Vallejo, CA had the highest median at $122,930[15]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA came next at $109,050, then San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA at $98,800[15]. The largest job counts were in New York-Newark-Jersey City with 12,090 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with 9,380[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$79,38014,820
California$79,00019,860
Connecticut$78,6401,540
Minnesota$75,0203,590
Maryland$73,5802,250
District of Columbia$73,310510
Vermont$73,210320
Washington$70,4603,490
Oregon$68,2102,230
New Jersey$66,5902,420
New Mexico$65,640800
Colorado$65,6201,640
Virginia$64,2403,670
New Hampshire$63,900320
Nevada$62,9001,100
Massachusetts$62,5007,440
Wisconsin$61,8601,880
Rhode Island$60,990800
North Dakota$60,980240
Michigan$60,8304,620
Delaware$60,060510
Wyoming$59,310200
Arkansas$58,5901,040
North Carolina$58,2103,690
Maine$57,0501,860
Alaska$56,710250
Kansas$56,3301,620
Hawaii$54,390n/a
Idaho$52,520510
Georgia$52,0301,330
Florida$51,5905,150
Utah$50,7701,240
West Virginia$50,070420
Illinois$49,9603,460
Missouri$49,5601,640
Mississippi$48,970920
South Dakota$48,920230
Iowa$48,5301,200
Indiana$48,3002,490
Pennsylvania$48,2903,500
Louisiana$47,100970
Texas$46,6308,220
Tennessee$46,5002,220
Arizona$46,3803,690
Ohio$46,0806,050
Montana$45,160740
Nebraska$43,240900
Oklahoma$43,1201,780
Kentucky$42,5701,360
Alabama$41,500740
South Carolina$39,930720

How to become a mental health therapist

The training details below come from a BLS profile on social workers that covers a wider group than this page[17].

The profile lists three requirements for clinical social workers: a master's degree, supervised clinical experience and a state license[21]. Every state requires licensing for clinical social workers[22]. After the supervised experience, they must pass a clinical exam[23]. Rules differ by state, so BLS suggests contacting the state licensure board[24].

You do not need a social work bachelor's degree to enter a master's program[25]. A bachelor's in almost any field is acceptable[25]. In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 77% said a master's degree is required and 19% said a bachelor's degree[26].

What mental health therapists do

Workers in this category assess and treat people with mental, emotional or substance abuse problems. The work can include individual and group therapy, crisis help and case management[27]. O*NET lists these tasks:

BLS also names communication and compassion as important qualities for social workers[29][30].

Where they work

For the wider social worker group, State and local government, excluding education and hospitals, was the largest employer group at 27% in 2025[31]. Most work in an office setting and may also visit clients or meet with colleagues[32]. Heavy caseloads and too few staff can make the work stressful[32]. Most are employed full time[33]. Some work evenings, weekends or holidays, and some may be on call[33]. About 2.4% of workers in this category were self-employed in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035[3]. That is from about 138,900 to 153,200 jobs, a gain of 14,300[3]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[35]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

BLS expects about 12,500 openings a year on average[6]. That count includes jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The median of $60,280 is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2][5]. Projected growth of 10.3% is well above the 3.5% for all occupations[3][35]. Entry typically takes a master's degree, and clinical roles add supervised experience and a state license[7][21]. Pay also depends on where you work, from $79,380 in New York to $39,930 in South Carolina[13]. The work involves people in stressful situations and can mean heavy caseloads[30][32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a mental health therapist make an hour?
For mental health and substance abuse social workers, the median was $28.98 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $32.71[2][8].
What degree do you need to be a mental health therapist?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education for this category[7]. In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 77% said a master's degree is required[26].
Do mental health social workers need a license?
Every state requires clinical social workers to be licensed, and rules vary by state[22][24].
Is mental health social work in demand?
BLS projects 10.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][35].
What is the highest paying state for mental health social workers?
New York had the highest median at $79,380, followed by California at $79,000[13].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 21-1023.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Case Manager, Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Therapist, Clinician, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the US was $60,280 per year and $28.98 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers is projected to grow 10.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 138,900 to 153,200 jobs (a change of +14,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: 10th percentile $39,740, 25th percentile $47,070, 75th percentile $79,730, 90th percentile $104,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 12,500 openings for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers was $68,030 per year and $32.71 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: 10th percentile $19.11, 25th percentile $22.63, 75th percentile $38.33, 90th percentile $50.08. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 132,810 people were employed as Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers jobs: California 19,860; New York 14,820; Texas 8,220; Massachusetts 7,440; Ohio 6,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Vallejo, CA $122,930; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $109,050; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $98,800; Salinas, CA $97,200; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $96,420; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $87,550; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $87,370; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $84,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 12,090 (median $82,450); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,380 (median $78,410); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 4,660 (median $63,830); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 2,870 (median $46,340); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,720 (median $47,390); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2,500 (median $75,020). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Social Workers" covers Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 21-1023.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 77%, Bachelor's Degree 19% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of social workers in 2025: State and local government, excluding education and hospitals 27%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 2.4% of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.